Vehicle lamp assembly generating animated image and method

ABSTRACT

A vehicle puddle lamp assembly is provided and includes a plurality of light projectors located on a vehicle and configured to illuminate different lighted image patterns on a ground surface adjacent to the vehicle. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly also includes a controller for sequentially activating the plurality of light projectors to generate an animated lighted image on the ground surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/871,065, filed on Apr. 26, 2013, entitled “VEHICLE PUDDLE LAMPASSEMBLY GENERATING ANIMATED IMAGE AND METHOD.” The aforementionedrelated application is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle lighting, and moreparticularly relates to a vehicle puddle lamp assembly for providing anilluminated image on the ground surface adjacent to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive vehicles are increasingly employing lighting devices such aspuddle lamps for enhanced lighting applications. Puddle lamps have beenemployed to illuminate a beam of light onto the ground surface in anarea adjacent to the vehicle door when the door is to be opened. Thepuddle lamp thereby provides illumination to a driver or passenger ofthe vehicle to observe the area for approaching or stepping out of thevehicle, such as the existence of a puddle of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle lampassembly is provided. The vehicle lamp assembly includes a lightprojector device located on a vehicle and configured to illuminatedifferent lighted image patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle,and a controller controlling the light projector device to sequentiallyilluminate the different lighted image patterns to generate an animatedlighted image on the surface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofgenerating an animated lighted image with a vehicle lamp assembly isprovided. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal toactivate a vehicle lamp, and controlling a light projector device tosequentially illuminate different light patterns on a surface adjacentto the vehicle to generate an animated lighted image.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automotive vehicle employing a puddlelamp assembly in an exterior side view mirror of a vehicle, according toone embodiment;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of section IA illustrating the exterior sideview mirror with a plurality of light projectors employed by the lampassembly;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the lamp assembly illustrating theprojection of a first lighted image with the first projector;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the lamp assembly illustrating theprojection of a second lighted image with the second projector;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of the lamp assembly illustrating theprojection of a third lighted image with the third projector;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line III-III of FIG. 2further illustrating the light projectors;

FIGS. 4A-4C are images of three different lighted image patternsgenerated by the three light projectors, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram further illustrating the puddle lamp assembly;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of controlling activationof the light projectors of the assembly, according to one embodiment;and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine of adjusting intensityand/or activation time of the light projectors, according to anotherembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in variousand alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detaileddesign; some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show functionoverview. Therefore, specific structural and functional detailsdisclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 1A, an automotive vehicle 10 is generallyillustrated employing a vehicle puddle lamp assembly 30, according toone embodiment. The vehicle 10 shown is one example of a passengervehicle having a pair of exterior rearview mirrors 12 mounted onopposite lateral sides of the vehicle generally near the front side ofthe front passenger doors 16, as is generally known in the art.Passenger doors 16 each include a handle 18 with a latch mechanism toenable a user to engage and unlatch the latch mechanism to open the doorfor access to enter and exit the vehicle. A remote key fob 22 is shownwhich may be operated by a user to activate various features includingdoor lock and unlock functions. The handle 18 is showing including aproximity sensor 20, such as a capacitive sensor, for sensing the handof the user in close proximity to the handle 18.

The vehicle puddle lamp assembly 30 is shown installed on an exteriorrearward facing side view mirror 12, generally in a position configuredto project an animated lighted image onto the ground surface 14 adjacentto a passenger side door of the vehicle 10. The lamp assembly 30includes a plurality of light projectors located on the vehicle shown inone embodiment installed in the lower housing of the mirror 12. In theembodiment shown, three light projectors are configured in a lineararray, each oriented to illuminate a different lighted image on the samegeneral area of the ground surface 14. While three light projectors areshown and described herein as part of the puddle lamp assembly, itshould be appreciated that two or more light projectors may be employedin various configurations and orientations. It should further beappreciated that the light projectors may be located at differentlocations on the vehicle such as in the vehicle door handle, the dooritself, a side fender, a bumper, a roof rail or other locationssufficient to project a lighted image onto the ground surface 14.

The vehicle puddle lamp assembly 30 is controlled by a controller tosequentially activate the plurality of light projectors consecutivelyone at a time such that a corresponding lighted image pattern is outputfrom each projector and projected onto the ground surface 14 one at atime at a sufficiently rapid rate to generate an animated lighted imagewhich has the appearance of a moving image. In the specific exampleshown and described herein, an image of a mustang 42A which may be alogo and may serve as a trademark is shown in three different lightedimage patterns in which the legs of the mustang appear to move due tothe sequential and rapid consecutive activations of the three lightprojectors. It should be appreciated that other images having differentpatterns, sizes, and light colors may be generated.

The puddle lamp assembly 30 may be activated in response to a useractivating the door unlock switch on the key fob 22 when the user iswithin signal communication range of the vehicle 10. Upon activation ofthe door unlock switch or button, the vehicle puddle lamp assembly 30 isturned on to generate the animated lighted image, such as the runningmustang. The lamp assembly 30 may remain on for a predetermined timeperiod, such as two minutes, and may be turned off prior to thepredetermined time period when a user's hand is detected by theproximity sensor 20 in close proximity to or actuating the door handle18. Accordingly, the appearance of the moving lighted image provides ananimated lighted image and serves as a puddle lamp to illuminate theground surface 14 adjacent to the vehicle door to enable the user toapproach and access the vehicle 10 and view the ground surface 14proximate thereto.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-4C, the lamp assembly 30 is further illustratedhaving three light projectors 32A-32C for generating three differentlighted image patterns 42A-42C. The lamp assembly 30 includes firstlight projector 32A, second light projector 32B and third lightprojector 32C, all shown arranged in a linear array and slightly angledrelative to one another so as to provide light illumination onto thesame general area on the ground surface 14. Each of the light projectorsincludes a housing 34A-34C, a light source 36A-36C, such as a lightemitting diodes (LEDs), and an image filter 38A-38C. The image filters38A-38C are arranged within the light output windows of thecorresponding light sources 36A-36C, respectively, such that lightoutput by the light sources 36A-36C is illuminated onto and passesthrough the image filters 38A-38C one at a time to provide the lightedimage patterns 42A-42C projecting onto the ground surface 14. The imagefilters 38A-38C may include a light transparent film having either apositive or negative light transparent image. Additionally, the lampassembly 30 is shown having a printed circuit board containing acontroller having control circuitry including LED drive circuitry forcontrolling activation and deactivation of the light sources and hencethe light projectors 32A-32C. The LEDs and filters generate a visiblelight such as white light or other color(s).

In FIG. 2A, the first light projector 32A is shown activated such thatthe first light source 36A illuminates light onto first image filter 32Ato generate a first lighted image pattern 42A on ground surface 14. InFIG. 2B, the second light projector 32B is shown activated such that thesecond light source 36B illuminates light onto the second image filter38B to generate a second lighted image pattern 42B on ground surface 14.In FIG. 2C, the third light projector 32C is shown activated such thatthird light source 36C generates a beam of light onto the third imagefilter 38C to generate a third lighted image pattern 42C onto the groundsurface 14. It should be appreciated that the light projectors 32A-32Care activated and deactivated one at a time in a successive sequence ata rapid rate to generate animated imaging. In doing so, each lightprojector may be turned on for an activation time period in the range ofabout 50 to 500 milliseconds, and more preferably 50 to 250milliseconds, and then turned off and the next light projector turned onimmediately so as to generate the appearance of a moving lighted image,such as an animated running mustang. The activation time period could beextended up to 1.5 seconds, according to embodiments that generate aslower moving image. The first, second and third lighted image patterns42A-42C are further shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, respectively. With asufficiently fast successive activation and deactivation of the lightprojectors, the mustang appears to be running as the legs as viewed by auser appear to move.

Referring to FIG. 5, the vehicle puddle lamp assembly 30 is furtherillustrated having a controller 50 receiving various inputs andcontrolling each of the first, second and third projectors 32A-32C, byapplying signals to the light sources 36A-36C. The controller 50 mayinclude a microprocessor 52 and memory 54 as illustrated, according toone embodiment. It should be appreciated that the controller 50 mayinclude control circuitry such as analog and/or digital controlcircuitry. Stored within memory 54 and executed by a microprocessor 52is logic 100 for processing the various inputs and controlling each ofthe plurality of light projectors as described herein. The inputs to thecontroller 50 may include a key fob door unlock signal 60 which may bemade available from another controller, e.g., body control module,within the vehicle in communication with the key fob via wirelesscommunication. Additionally, the controller 50 receives a distance touser signal 62 which is a distance that the user is detected from thevehicle. The distance to the user signal may be generated by computingdistance between the vehicle and the key fob, according to oneembodiment. Another controller such as a vehicle body control module maysupply the distance to user signal. According to other embodiments, thedistance to the user signal could be generated using other sensors, suchas an ultrasonic proximity sensor. The controller 50 further receives adoor unlatch sensor signal 64. The door unlatch sensor signal may be asignal sensed by the proximity sensor in the door handle, or may be asignal detected by activation of a sensor on the key fob.

The controller 50 processes the inputs and activates the lamp assembly30 when the key fob door unlock signal 60 is received by turning theplurality of light projectors sequentially on and off one at a time. Thecontroller 50 may activate the lamp assembly 30 in response to othersignals such as a door unlock signal generated by a door mounted switchor a door open signal, according to other embodiments. The lamp assembly30 may be turned off when a predetermined time period expires or when auser is detected opening a vehicle door via the door unlatch sensorsignal 64 according to one embodiment. The controller 30 may furtherdetermine a distance from the vehicle to a user and may controlintensity and/or time of activation for each of the light projectors,according to other embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 6, the logic or method 100 of activating the vehiclepuddle lamp assembly 30 is illustrated, according to one embodiment.Method 100 begins at step 102 and proceeds to decision step 104 todetermine if the key fob door unlock button has been activated and, ifnot, returns. If the key fob door unlock button has been activated,method 100 proceeds to step 106 to turn on the first LED 1 to intensityZ, then proceeds to step 108 to wait for an activation time period of Xmilliseconds, before proceeding to step 110 to turn off the first LED 1.Accordingly, a first cycle of the first projector turning on and off iscomplete. Next, method 100 proceeds to step 112 to turn on the secondLED 2 to an intensity Z, and then proceeds to step 114 to wait for anactivation time period of X milliseconds, before turning off the secondLED 2 at step 116. Thus, the second light projector has been turned onand off for a complete cycle. Next, method 100 proceeds to step 118 toturn on the third LED 3 to an intensity Z, and then proceeds to step 120to wait for an activation time period of X milliseconds before turningoff the third LED 3 at step 122. At this point, a cycle of the thirdprojector turning on and off is complete. Following successivesequential activations and deactivations of each of the first and secondand third light projectors, method 100 proceeds to decision step 124 todetermine if a timer has timed out since the key fob unlock wasactivated and, if so, ends at step 128. If the timer has not timed out,method 100 proceeds to decision step 126 to determine if the door handlesensor has been actuated and, if so, ends at step 128. If the doorhandle sensor has not been actuated, method 100 returns to step 104 torepeat the successive activations and deactivations of the plurality oflight projectors.

Referring to FIG. 7, a method 150 for adjusting the intensity Z and/oractivation time X of the light projectors of method 100 is provided,according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, method 150 beginsat step 152 and proceeds to step 154 to detect a distance to the user.The distance may be detected by computing the distance between thevehicle and the key fob, according to one embodiment. According to otherembodiments, proximity sensors, such as an ultrasonic sensor may beemployed to detect a distance to a user. Based on the detected distance,method 150 proceeds to step 156 to adjust intensity Z and/or activationtime X of the light projectors based on the distance to the user, beforereturning at step 158. Accordingly, as the user approaches the vehicle,the intensity of the lighted image pattern generated by each lightprojector may be increased and/or the speed at which the projectorimages are changed and the image appears to be moving may be increased.The intensity can thereby increase or decrease as the customerapproaches or moves away from the vehicle. For example, if the customeris within fifty (50) feet of the vehicle, the image projectors may beturned on and activated at ten percent (10%) intensity and may ramp upto fifty percent (50%) intensity as the user moves to within a distanceof twelve (12) feet of the vehicle, and then ramp to one hundred percent(100%) of the intensity as the user reaches a distance of five (5) feetfrom the vehicle. The X activation time may be changed to make the imageappear to move at a faster or slower rate. The X activation time periodmay be shortened (decreased) to make the image to appear to move fasteras the user approaches the vehicle and may be extended (increased) asthe user moves further away from the vehicle, according to one example.

Accordingly, the vehicle puddle lamp assembly 30 advantageously provideslight illumination in a region to the side of the vehicle door to allowenhanced access lighting. The lamp assembly 30 generates an animatedimage which gives the appearance of a moving lighted image on the groundsurface adjacent to the vehicle to provide an aesthetically pleasinglight illumination. It should be appreciated that the puddle lampassembly 30 may be employed on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle aswell as other locations on the vehicle to provide light illumination anda lighted animated image.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle lamp assembly comprising: a lightprojector device located on a vehicle and configured to illuminatedifferent lighted image patterns on a surface adjacent to the vehicle;and a controller controlling the light projector device to sequentiallyilluminate the different lighted image patterns to generate an animatedlighted image on the surface.
 2. The lamp assembly of claim 1, whereinthe light projector device comprises a plurality of light projectors andthe controller sequentially activates the plurality of light projectors.3. The lamp assembly of claim 2, wherein the controller turns theplurality of light projectors on and off one projector at a time.
 4. Thelamp assembly of claim 3, wherein the controller turns one of the lightprojectors on for a time period in the range of 50 to 500 milliseconds.5. The lamp assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of lightprojectors comprises first, second and third projectors, each comprisinga light source and a filter operatively coupled to the light source forgenerating the image pattern.
 6. The lamp assembly of claim 2, whereineach of the plurality of light projectors comprises a light source and afilter comprising an image pattern located in front of the light source.7. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the light projector device islocated in a vehicle exterior side view mirror for generating lightedimage patterns on a ground surface adjacent to a vehicle door.
 8. Thelamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller activates the lightprojector device in response to a control signal and further deactivatesthe light projector device when an occupant is sensed opening a door ofthe vehicle.
 9. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising aproximity sensor for sensing distance of an occupant relative to thevehicle, wherein the controller further controls intensity of the lightilluminated by the light projector device based on the sensed distance.10. The lamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensorfor sensing distance of an occupant relative to the vehicle, wherein thecontroller further controls a speed at which the animated image changesbased on the sensed distance.
 11. A method of generating an animatedlighted image with a vehicle lamp assembly, comprising: receiving asignal to activate a vehicle lamp; and controlling a light projectordevice to sequentially illuminate different light patterns on a surfaceadjacent to the vehicle to generate an animated lighted image.
 12. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising the step of sensing an occupant incontact with the vehicle and deactivating the light projector devicewhen the occupant is sensed.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein thestep of controlling the light projector device comprises turning aplurality of light projectors on and off one projector at a time. 14.The method of claim 13, wherein the step of controlling the lightprojector device comprises turning one of the light projectors on for atime period in the range of 50 to 500 milliseconds.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the light projector device comprises first, second,and third light projectors, each comprising a light source and a filteroperatively coupled to the light source for generating the imagepattern.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the light projector deviceis located on a vehicle exterior side view mirror for generating lightedimage patterns on a ground surface adjacent to a vehicle door.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving a signal comprisesreceiving a vehicle door open signal generated by a key fob.
 18. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising the step of determining a distanceof an occupant relative to the vehicle.
 19. The method of claim 18further comprising the step of controlling intensity of lightilluminated by the light projector device based on the sensed distance.20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of adjustingspeed at which the animated image changes based on the sensed distance.